Liverpool stars Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane to face off in AFCON final

By Ben Church, CNN

Updated 1120 GMT (1920 HKT) February 4, 2022

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah will face each other in Sunday's AFCON final.

(CNN)Liverpool teammates Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will come face to face in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final after Egypt booked its place in Sunday's game.

Mane's Senegal was awaiting the winner of Thursday's semifinal between Cameroon and Egypt and, despite the host having the better chances, it was the Pharaohs who progressed on penalties. Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal produced two brilliant saves in the shootout before Cameroon's Clinton Njie fired his penalty wide of the post to send Egypt through after a goalless draw. Egypt will now be bidding for a record-extending eighth AFCON title while Senegal looks to win its first. Sunday's final will also be the first of three matches between the two sides in the coming months with the teams pitted against each other in a two-legged playoff for a place in this year's World Cup in Qatar. Read MoreBoth Salah and Mane have spearheaded Liverpool's success in recent seasons and they now carry the hopes of their nations on their backs. Neither have been in lightning form during this year's tournament but both have still scored goals, Mane netting three times and Salah twice. READ: The tiny island nation of Comoros at the Africa Cup of NationsMohamed Salah celebrates with teammates after winning the penalty shootout. 'Experience' is key Senegal last reached an AFCON final in 2019, eventually losing 1-0 to Algeria, and the current crop of players will certainly be feeling the weight of expectation to finally end the country's wait for a title. The current team — the top-ranked side on the continent — is full of talented